Koch-Chemie Pol Star "Po" textile, leather & Alcantara cleaner 1000ml

Koch-Chemie Pol Star Cleans Upholstery, Alcantara, and Leather from One Bottle

What is Koch-Chemie Pol Star "Po"? A pH-neutral cleaning concentrate for textiles, Alcantara, and pigmented smooth leather in vehicle interiors — diluted 1:10 with water and applied in a pump sprayer such as the iK Multi Pro 2. Leaves no water marks and includes a preserving formula to prevent rapid re-soiling. Not suitable for aniline and suede leathers such as nubuck or wild leather.

Koch-Chemie Pol Star "Po" is a pH-neutral cleaning concentrate from Koch-Chemie for textile, Alcantara, and pigmented smooth leather surfaces in vehicle interiors. The standard dilution is 1:10 with water — 1:20 for light soiling, and up to 1:5 for stubborn stains. The neutral formula uses fine-pored foam lamellae to lift dirt from deep within the fibers and simultaneously contains a preserving component that protects the material's factory impregnation and makes the surface less susceptible to new soiling.

Pol Star is almost always applied using a pump sprayer. In the Detailing1 workshop, this is the iK Multi Pro 2 — 1.5 liters of working volume, a continuously adjustable spray nozzle, and a pressure relief valve ensure a fine, even spray pattern on textiles like Alcantara. Since 2025, COLOURLOCK Pol Star with an identical formula and a more flexible 1:5 to 1:20 dilution has also been available. Both products originate from the same Koch-Chemie production facility in Unna.

• Three materials with one bottle. Pol Star removes dirt from upholstery fabrics, Alcantara, and pigmented smooth leathers. The pH value of 7 works without acids, alkalis, or bleaches. In practice, this means: one cleaner for seat upholstery, carpet, door panels, and headliner — instead of three bottles with specialized formulas on the shelf.
• Preserving component against re-soiling. Pol Star not only cleans but also leaves an invisible protective layer that preserves the original impregnation. The result is a noticeably longer cleaning interval — crumbs, dust, and grease residues penetrate less deeply because surface tension and textile protection are not washed away.
• Up to 11 liters of ready-to-use solution from a 1-liter bottle. At a 1:10 dilution with water, the 1L concentrate yields approximately 11 liters of ready-to-use cleaning solution — enough for 30 to 40 complete vehicle interiors. The cost per liter for each application thus falls significantly below one euro. The 2×1L and 3×1L bundles further reduce the concentrate price; the 5-liter canister is for continuous workshop use.

Practical tip from Detailing1: The most common mistake with Pol Star is using too highly concentrated product and spraying directly onto the material surface. The result is lighter edges at the transition to the untreated area, because the cleaner penetrates the fibers and leaves a color gradient as it dries. The correct method is: put Pol Star diluted 1:10 into a pump sprayer, spray the solution onto a microfiber cloth or an upholstery brush attachment, and then work the material. This allows for precise application, prevents over-wetting, and actively works the cleaner into the fibers.

Dilute 1:10, spray, brush in, wipe off

Pol Star works in three clear steps: pre-clean, treat, dry. Before application, thoroughly remove loose dirt with a vacuum cleaner and an upholstery nozzle — otherwise, the cleaner will only spread the coarse dirt over the surface. Pre-soften dried stains (coffee, cola, food residues) with a damp microfiber cloth, as they are otherwise difficult to remove even with Pol Star.

Dose: Mix Pol Star 1:10 with warm tap water — 100 ml concentrate to 1 liter of water — and pour directly into the pump sprayer. For lightly soiled upholstery, 1:20 is sufficient; for heavily stained areas, the dilution can go up to 1:5.

Spray the solution onto a clean microfiber cloth or a soft upholstery brush attachment, not directly onto the material. Then work the surface in circular motions, applying light pressure for heavy soiling. For upholstery fabrics, remove dissolved dirt particles and residual moisture with a second dry cloth — this shortens drying time and prevents marks.

Alcantara requires more care: here, the microfiber cloth is sparingly moistened, and the surface is wiped with long, parallel strokes in one direction — not in circles. This preserves the typical directional fiber structure. Afterwards, roughen the surface in both directions with a soft brush to restore the velour effect. Smooth leather should be treated almost dry: a barely damp cloth, no puddle-like wetting. After cleaning, always wipe with a dry cloth and, if necessary, apply Leather Star "Ls" as a conditioning step.

Textile, Alcantara, Smooth Leather. Not Nubuck.

Pol Star shows its strengths on the three material groups found in 95 percent of all vehicle interiors: woven upholstery fabrics, Alcantara, and pigmented smooth leathers. The formula works very reliably on coffee stains, oil rings, makeup traces, and handprints — the pH-neutral composition prevents fading or color shifts, which regularly occur with acidic or alkaline universal cleaners on sensitive fabrics. The preserving component then penetrates the fibers and protects against the next soiling cycle.

Alcantara and microfiber velour are particularly sensitive to aggressive cleaners — the directional fiber structure sticks together with too much wetting and later appears greasy instead of velvety. Pol Star bypasses this with its neutral formula and fine-pored foam development, which works without large amounts of liquid. In the Detailing1 workshop, we also use Pol Star on headrests with integrated lettering — where Alcantara meets leather and a more aggressive cleaner would leave marks on one of the two surfaces.

Clear limitations exist with open-pored leather types. Aniline leather absorbs water like a sponge and then forms permanent water marks. Nubuck and suede lose their typical rough feel with any contact with moisture — here, dry cleaning methods with a special suede brush are required.

Pol Star is also not the first choice for stubborn grease stains from the glove compartment (sunscreen, makeup foundation, cosmetic oils) — an alkaline interior cleaner is better suited for this. If material compatibility is more important than maximum cleaning power, stick with Pol Star and, if in doubt, apply a second pass to the pre-cleaned surface. If stubborn grease residues need to be removed and the material is robust, use an alkaline cleaner.

The Workshop Workflow with a Pump Sprayer

Pol Star is the right choice for anyone who plans interior cleaning as a regular step in their care routine and keeps a pump sprayer like the iK Multi Pro 2 permanently filled with a diluted solution.

For a second car, a family station wagon, or a hobby car on the weekend, a 1-liter bottle of concentrate is enough for about a year of use. The 2×1L and 3×1L bundles reduce the concentrate price per liter and cover two or three-car households. Per vehicle — depending on soiling and material mix — 300 to 600 ml of ready-to-use spray solution are consumed, which corresponds to 30 to 60 ml of concentrate.

For detailing businesses with three to five vehicle interiors daily, the 5-liter canister is the logical choice. Alternatively, since 2025, the COLOURLOCK Pol Star concentrate offers a more flexible dilution of 1:5 to 1:20 with an identical formula — both products come from the same Koch-Chemie production in Unna.

For a complete interior workflow, combine Pol Star with two other products from the Koch-Chemie line. Before Pol Star cleaning, the vacuum cleaner is used — without this step, you would only spread loose dirt in the material. After Pol Star cleaning, material-specific care products follow: Top Star "Ts" for hard plastic surfaces in the cockpit and Leather Star for smooth leather seats. This three-step process — vacuuming, Pol Star, material finish — takes about 45 minutes for a mid-range station wagon and covers the entire interior cleaning up to the window frame.

Regarding the choice of spray device: the iK Multi Pro 2 with a 1.5-liter tank volume and pressure relief valve is recommended. The constant spray pressure ensures a fine, even mist pattern — unlike a classic hand sprayer, where the pressure drops with each pump and the spray distribution becomes uneven. For smaller touch-ups, a standard 500 ml spray bottle with an attached spray head is also sufficient.

Store Pol Star frost-free between 5 and 25 degrees Celsius and use the concentrate within 24 months after opening. During this period, the preserving component remains fully effective, and the cleaning pH remains stable at 7.3. The mixed working solution in the pump sprayer should be used within 4 weeks — after that, foaming decreases, and the preserving effect diminishes.

Koch-Chemie production in Unna manufactures Pol Star in green label bottles — this is the manufacturer's internal color code for neutral pH products and a reliable sorting signal when multiple Koch-Chemie products are on the shelf at the same time. In the workshop, you can thus grab the right bottle without reading labels and avoid confusion with acidic or alkaline cleaners from the same series.

Application of Koch-Chemie Pol Star

Dilute 1:10, apply with a cloth, never directly onto the material

Pol Star is a concentrate. The standard dilution is 1:10 — 100 ml of concentrate to 1 liter of warm tap water, filled directly into the pump spray bottle. For lightly soiled upholstery, 1:20 is sufficient; for stubborn stains, go for 1:5. The iK Multi Pro 2 with a 1.5-liter tank volume and pressure relief valve is recommended — the constant spray pressure ensures a fine, even mist pattern on textiles like Alcantara.

Before application, thoroughly vacuum the entire surface with a vacuum cleaner and upholstery nozzle — including seams, creases, and seat transitions. For dried-in stains, pre-soak them with a damp microfiber cloth. The diluted solution is then sprayed onto a clean, dry microfiber cloth or a soft upholstery brush attachment, never directly onto the material — otherwise, streaks will form as it dries, because the cleaner will soak into the fibers in concentrated spots. Two to three sprays on the cloth are sufficient for a seat bolster.

For textile upholstery, work in circular motions with light pressure, and in the second pass, use a dry cloth to remove loosened dirt and residual moisture. Alcantara is wiped with long, parallel strokes in one direction and then roughened in both directions with a soft brush to restore the directed velour effect. Treat smooth leather almost dry — keep the cloth only slightly damp, gently work it into the surface, and immediately wipe it off with a dry cloth. After cleaning, open the car doors for 15 to 30 minutes to allow any residual moisture to escape.

Notes: Pol Star is not suitable for aniline leather, nubuck, and suede — open-pored materials absorb water like a sponge and form permanent watermarks. For smooth leather, follow up with Leather Star "Ls" as a conditioning step; this keeps the leather surface supple. Store frost-free between 5 and 25 degrees Celsius, use within 24 months after opening. The mixed working solution in the pump spray bottle should be used within 4 weeks — after that, foaming decreases and the preserving effect diminishes.